Drip rack



April 10, 1962 c. G. PADGETT 3,028,973

DRIP RACK Filed April 6, 1960 IN V EN TOR.

Claw/ ug e CYQHPQ QQZZQ United States Patent 3,028,973 DRE RACK Clarence Gary Padgett, 940 Pine St., Glenview, Ill. Filed Apr. 6, 196i), Ser. No. 20,391 2 Claims. (Cl. 211--87) The invention relates to a rack for supporting dental X-ray films while draining after having been placed in the developing solutions. V

In my prior Patent No. 2,867,161, issued January 6, 1959, I show a frame for removably supporting a plurality of dental X-ray films so that the films are hung in a vertical position separated from one another, to permit the developing or rinsing solutions to drain therefrom. As shown in the patent, the frame is preferably of rectangular form provided at its upper end with a hook for supporting the frame from a ledge or the like. Extending crosswise of the frame are a plurality of film holders in the form of coiled springs, between the turns of which edge portions of the films may be inserted and gripped to hold them while draining. While the frame, when in use, may be supported over a sink or the like, to catch the solution draining therefrom, the sink cannot be used for its other usual purposes during such time because the frame would be in the way and also because there is chance of splashing the film with water and thus spoiling it.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel drip rack for frames of the foregoing character, on which the frames may be conveniently hung during draining, which may be placed in an out-of-the-way location, and which is of inexpensive and neat appearing construction.

Another object is to provide a novel drip rack which holds the frames in a predetermined position, and which includes a receptacle to receive and collect the solution draining from the films.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drip rack embodying the features of the invention. I

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Dentists frequently wish to take X-ray pictures of the patients teeth, several pictures being required when it is desired to cover completely both jaws. A dentist thus has quite a considerable number of films to develop in the course of his work. It is therefore important that apparatus be provided to facilitate the developing of the films and render the work as convenient as possible. It is also important for such apparatus to not be cumbersome nor require any large amount of space in the dentists office. In my prior patent, I have disclosed a frame for supporting a quantity of films during the developing process and the subsequent draining.

The present invention further facilitates the handling of the films during developing, by providing a drip rack on which the frames of my prior patent, or other film supporting means, may be placed while draining. The drip rack is so constructed that it may be placed in an out-of-the-way location, such as on a wall or a door, and includes means for readily supporting one or more frames, and a receptacle located under the supporting means for collecting the liquid draining from the frames and films.

As shown in the drawing, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a fiat panel preferably made of sheet metal such as stainless steel and adapted to be mounted in a vertical position. Adjacent the upper edge of the panel 10, there is provided means for supporting one or more film holding frames 11, such supporting means being shaped to hold each frame 11 in a prede 3,028,973 Patented Apr. 10, 1952 termined position. Each frame 11 is provided with a hook 12 or the like at its upper end, and the supporting means is shaped to cooperate with the hook 12 in holding the frame in its predetermined position. Thus, in the present instance, the supporting means isshown as being integral with the panel 10 and comprising a horizontally extending fold 13 in the metal sheet comprising the panel 10. The upper surface of the fold 13 slants upwardly and outwardly from the panel 10, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the hook 12' cannot be acidentally disengaged from the fold 13. The panel 10 and fold 13 may be of any desired length in order to hold the desired number of frames 11.

Under the frames supported on the fold 13 and extending horizontally for substantially the same length of. the latter is a receptacle indicated generally at 14. The receptacle 14 projects forwardly from the panel 10 and preferably is formed by bending the bottom edge portion of the panel sheet forwardly at 15, then upwardly and outwardly as at 16. The receptacle thus has the form of an elongated trough. The ends of the trough are of course closed by end pieces 17 secured to the end edges of the panel proper and of the bent portions 15 and 16 in a liquid-tight manner.

The panel 10 may be made of relatively thin metal, and if secured directly to a wall, would become distorted by any surface irregularities in the Wall. To avoid such distortion, a stiff backing board 18 is provided, the board 18 being made of hardboard such as Masonite. The board 18 is preferably of the same size as the panel 10. To secure the panel 10 and backing board 18 to the wall, a plurality of screws 19 may be used.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that one or more film-supporting frames 11 may be hung on the fold 13 and held in a predetermined position, the liquid draining therefrom being received by the receptacle 14. By mounting the drip rack on a wall, it may be placed in any out-of-the-way position but provides a convenient place for hanging the frames.

I claim:

1. A drip rack for supporting an X-ray film-retaining frame when draining, said rack being formed of an integral sheet of metal and comprising a fiat panel adapted to be mounted in a vertical position, means adjacent the upper edge of said panel providing a surface extending generally outwardly from said panel and horizontally substantially the full width of said panel and located in spaced relation below said upper edge of said panel for supporting and holding a frame in a predetermined position suspended from said surface, said means comprising a horizontal fold formed in said sheet, said surface being the upper surface of said fold and being generally flat, and a receptacle provided adjacent the lower edge of said panel and underlying said means to receive solution draining from the film and frame.

2. A drip rack according to claim 1, in which said upper surface of said fold slants upwardly and outwardly to receive a hook on said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 1, 

